Federal investigators are looking into complaints of Florida voter hanky-panky in what Attorney General Janet Reno yesterday conceded was usually a “state” issue.

Amid fears of pro-Gore meddling by Reno – who has rejected calls by the FBI chief and her own top aides to launch a probe into Veep Al Gore’s funny-money role – the attorney general vowed to keep “politics” out of this latest dispute, which could decide whether Gore or GOP rival George W. Bush becomes president.

“I want to be very careful that we don’t do anything that politicizes what is a very important moment in American history,” Reno told reporters.

“I’m going to do my level best to make sure that politics is not a part of this.”

But Republican National Committee officials said they have “grave” concerns about Reno’s jumping in, citing what they called “the politicization of the Justice Department over the past eight years.”

Reno said that, while “the conduct of an election is basically a matter of state law,” federal prosecutors are “here to do what’s right and to make sure that the voice of the American people … is heard fairly.”

However, she said she won’t “jump in” unless “there is any basis for federal action” based on possible civil-rights violations.

The NAACP, claiming some blacks were turned away at the polls in Florida and other southern states, has filed a formal civil-rights complaint with the Justice Department.

Sources said there were no plans to dispatch federal prosecutors to Florida.

Reno said she hasn’t discussed the voting dispute with the White House and indicated there would be no need for her to recuse herself from any involvement.

It was unclear if Reno’s top deputies – civil-rights chief Bill Lan Lee and Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, rumored to be in the running to replace her if Gore wins the White House – would recuse themselves if there is a full inquiry.

Justice officials said the department has received “hundreds and hundreds” of complaints of ballot shenanigans across the country.